brown



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. T. BROWN. SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALOOMMUNIGATION No 606,620.

Patented June 28, 1898.

KIRMINQ l VENTOR Q WMLOI/l/ ATTOR'NEYa m: NORRIS PETERS cu, PHOTO-UTHO.WASHIN (No Model.) I 5 ,Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. BROWN. I SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION. N0. 606,620. PatentedJune 28, 1898.

LIME

L INE ATTONEYS,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. T. BROWN.

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION.

No. 606,620. Patented June 28,1898.

WITNESSES! 615 'BY I ATTOR'NEY3,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets$heet 4.

I A. T. BROWN.

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION.

No. 606,620. Patented June 28,1898.

ATTIORNEYS,

m: NORRIS PEYERS ca. monmumon wAsHmaTcu. a c.

(No Model.) Y

, 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. A. T. BROWN v SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL COMMUNICATION.No. 606,620. Patented June 28,1898.

AT'TORNEWS,

V UNITED STATES PATENT i EEicE.

ALEXANDER '1. BROWN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YO'RIQ-ASSIGNOR TO WILBERT a i L.SM-ITH, TRUSTEE.

S YSTEM F dR ELECTRICAL COMM UNICATION.

srncrrromrion rotmin f tfef LettersPatent Ne'.' 06 ,e2o,datea June 28,1898.

" Application filed April 9,1896. sa ient. 586,765; (Nomedet) Be itknown that I, ALEXANDER T. BROWN, conductors of a metallic circuit, B BB of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in C 0 DiD D 9 branchconductors leading the State of New York, have invented new from theline conductors, and A B O D E 55 5 anduseful Improvements in SystemsforElecstations connected to said line and branch trical Communication,of which the followconductors. vThe station A is preferably aring, takenin connection with the accompanyranged at one end or the line conductorsA ing drawings, is a full, clear, and exact de- A and is provided with aresponsive device scrip'tion. I or signal a, a source of electricalenergy, as 60 [0 My invention relates to an improved sysamagneto-electric machine a, an electric tem of electricalcommunication'for use in communicatingdevice, and a. switchingdetelephony,telegraphy, 850., and has for its vice, all of which partsmay be of any desirobject the production of a simplified construcableform,size, and construction. The election of-switching devices andarrangement tric communicating device usually consists 65 z 5 of wiringwhereby anyone of several staof a receiver a a transmitter a aninductions upon'the same circuit may be signaled tion-coil a and abattery a and the switchfrom one or more 'of the stations connected ingdevice preferably consists of fixed termito saidcircuit; and to this endthe invention nals a a a a movable switch members (1, consists,essentially, in the combination, con; a provided with movable terminals61 c0 70 2o struction, and arrangement of the component a movable switchmember a and terminals parts of the system, all as hereinafter more (notlettered) engaged by said member a. particularly described, and pointedout in the The line conductors A A terminate, re-

claims. l spectively, at the fixed terminals a a and In describing thisinvention reference is conductors c0 d d" lead, respectively, from 7 5 25 had to the accompanying drawings, forming the terminal (N, the lineconductor A and" a part of-this specification, in which like let- "theterminal a to the ground, the receiver a ters indicate correspondingparts in all the and a terminal adapted to be engaged by the views.switch memberct and normally disconnected Figure l is a diagrammaticView illustrattherefrom. The signal a is connected in cir- 8o 3:: ingthe general constructionand arrangement cuit witha conductor (618,leading to the movof my improved system. Fig. 2 is a diagramableterminal a and a conductor a. The matic view of detached parts of one ofthe switch member a normally engages termiend stations of my system, theswitching denals forming the terminations of the conduc- Vice beingshown of substantially fullsize tor a and an additional conductor alead- 85 and in its normal position. Fig. 3, is a front ing to theterminal a", which is normally enelevation of a portion of the inclosingcase or gaged by the movable terminal a.

box ordinarily used for a magneto-electric The magneto-electric machinect is prefermachine, the switching device for one of the ably designedto furnish an interrupted curintermediate stations of my system isillusrent and is connected in circuit with conduc- 90 o trated asoperatively arranged in said case or tors a (1 leading, respectively, tothe movbox, and the other parts of said station shown able switch membera and a terminal nordiagrammatically and in reduced scale. Fig. mallyengaged by the movable switch mem- 4 is a diagrammatic view of detachedparts her a. The secondary and primary windof another of theintermediate stations of this ings of the induction-coil a are suitablycon- 5 improved system, the switching device being nected to thereceiver a a conductor 0, the

shown of substantially full size and in its battery a anda conductor Gand the transnormal position and Fig. 5 is a side elevamitter a isconnected to said battery and to tion, partly in section and partlybroken a conductor LL The conductors (1 .64 61 away, of the switchingdevice seen at Fig 2 terminate at terminals which are adapted to mo andan inclosing case or box similar to the be engaged by the movable switchmember one shown at Fig. 3. (r and are normally disconnected therefromTo all whom it may concern; A A ,:Fig. 1, represent the line wires orfor breaking the circuits to the inductioncoil.

The described means of connecting the parts of the switching andelectric communicating and switching devices for the station A isparticularly simple and applicable for my improved system of electriccommunication; but it will be understood that said devices may beotherwise connected, if desired, providing the operation of the parts isnot impaired. It will also be understood that the electric communicatingdevice may consist merely of a telephone-reeeiver or any other suitablemechanism,

The stations I) O D E are respectively provided with responsive devicesor signals e (Z c, magneto-electric machines Z) c d c, receivers Z) e (Zc-, transmitters b e (Z e induction-coils l) c d 6, batteries b e (Z 0",terminals l)" b Z1 Z1" I) Z), c c c c c c, d (Z (Z (1 (Z (1 e e" 0 6 ca, movable switch members I) l) l), c a e, (7, (Z (Z 0 e e, andconductors 1) U I) Z) b Z2 Z1 Z1 bill bll b1? 15 01G l? 18 C19 C20 C21C22 C21] C21 C25, (Z15 d d" (Z (Z (Z (Z (Z d (1 (Z and c c e e c e e c cc constructed and conneeted similarly to the like parts a a a (L3 a a aa a a a a (L a a (L15 a a" a a (Z20 a 09 (0 a a of the station A, withthe exception of the arrangement of the terminals I) b b 0 c c, d (Z d,e e e and the signals Z) c d e.

The terminals c a are respectively connected to the line conductors A Aand at each station 13 D' said line conductors are divided into oppositesections. The terminals l)" c c are connected to the branch conductors13 C D the terminals 11 e are re spectively connected to sections of theline conductors A A, leading to the station A, and the terminal (Z isconnected to a sect-ion of the line conductor A leading to the stationIt. The remaining sections of said line conductors A A are connected toadditional fixed terminals b 0 d two of which, 0 11 are formed with twoengaging arms. These additional terminals Z1 0 (1 are normally engagedwith the movable terminals t e d, and the terminal (Z is connected toone end of the conductor (1. The signal a is preferably operated only bya current of positive polarity and the signals I) care operated only bycurrents of opposite polarity to those for operating the signals (Z c. Ihave therefore shown the signals 1) c as negative and the signals (Z cas positive, and it will be understood that suitable springs or anyother well-known means as counterweights, not necessary to describeherein, are connected to the hammers or movable parts of said signalsfor retracting the same.

The movable switch members a a a, b bll bll, it) ll ll, (ZN) 7i! (Z11710 ll ll -Y b OP erated by any suitable means, and in order that theconstruction and operation of myinvention may be entirely clear I haveshown at Figs. 2, 3, -l-, and 5 suitable means for actuating the switchmembers c" a a, 0*" c 0, (6 (Z d. As best seen at Fig. 5, the switchmembers of each station, as the one A, and the actuating means for saidmembers are preferablysupported by the inclosing case or box, as the onea, for supporting the usual signal and magneto-electric machine of thetelephone set at said station. The switch members a a are insulated fromeach other and preferably rock independently and reversely on a shattaprojecting from the inner face of the front wall of the case a, as bestseen at Fig. 5. Suitable springs (4 of", formed of electric conductingmaterial, hold the switch members of" c in their normal position andconnect the same to the conductors a a and a stop of, of insulatingmaterial, limits their movement when rocked by said springs.

The switch members (0" a are provided with apertures (0, arranged out ofalinement with each other, and suitable operating-pieces a, usuallyformed with pointed ends, are reciprocally movable into said aperturesfor alining the same and rocking the switch members c a into position tocontrol the direction and polarity of the current passed to one or bothof the line-wires by the magneto-electric machine a. The operating-piececorresponding to the station required is held in position by theoperators linger during the operation of the magneto-electric machine a,and when said station has been called the pressure is relieved from saidoperating-piece, which is then automatically returned to its normalposition by suitable means, as a spring a whereupon the switch members aa are also automatically returned to their normal position by thesprings U; a

The switch member a is preferably me u n ted on a suitable spindleprojecting from the inner face of the rear wall of the case or box a, asbest seen at Fig. 5, and is connected to a lever a having one endmounted on the spindle for said switch member, and its opposite endextended through an opening in the adjacent side wall of the case c Pand provided with a hook-shaped extremity of. The receiver a is normallyengaged with the extremity of and depresses the lover a against theact-ion of a spring a". \Vhen the receiver 0. is removed, the spring aelevates the lover of and thereby rocks the switch member a from itsnormal position for com pleting the local circuit from the battery a andthe circuit to the line conductor from the secondary winding of theinductioncoil a. As is apparent, the inelosing case (1/ is particularlyapplicable forsupporting the switching device of my improved system; butit is obvious that the same may be otherwise supported, if desired. Theswitchingdevices of the stations t) e (Z c are usually supported by theinelosing cases or boxes [or their signals and magneto-electricmachines, and at Fig. 3 I have shown the switehin g device for station 0as supported by the inclosing case of.

lIO

It is, however, thoughtunnecessary to further illustrate and describethe switching devices of the stations B O D E, as said devices areclearly shown diagrammatically at Fig.

l and as it will be evident to one skilled in the art that the desiredoperation of said switching devices is effected by thetelephonesupporting levers and the position of the apertures in thereversely-rocking switch members of said devices.

In order that my improvedsystem may be thoroughly understood, I will nowproceed to describe its operation.

As will be clearly pointed out in tracing the circuits, the signals 1) care connected in metallic circuit to both line conductors, the signals 0d are connected to the line conductor A and to the ground, and, aspreviously stated, the signals 1) c are operated by currents of negativepolarity and the signals d e by currents of opposite polarity. If theattendant at station A desires to actuate the negative signal I), heforces inwardly the opcrating-piece corresponding to said station, andthereby moves the switch member a a sufficient distance to disengage theterminal a 'from the terminal a without disengaging the same from theterminal a A negative current is then free to pass from the source ofelectric energy a to the signal I). The circuit for said currentconsists of the negative conductor a switch member am, terminals @1208,line conductor A, branch conductor B terminals 12 12 12 conductor 19switch member 19 conductor Z9 negative signal I), conductorb terminals bb ,branch conductor B line conductor A, terminals 6 6 conductor 6positive signal e, (not operated by said current,) conductor 6, switchmember e conductor e terminals 69 e 6 line conductor A branch conductorD terminals d 61 d branch conductor D line conductor A branch conductor0 terminals c 0 c branch conductor 0 line conductor A terminals a a,conductor 0, signal a, conductor a, switch member a, and positiveconductor e to the source of electric energy a. When the attendant atstation A desires to operate the signal 6, the correspondingoperating-piece a is actuated to reverse the position of the terminals aa,

and consequently a positive current is then passed over the lineconductor A from the terminal a and returns over the line conductor A tothe terminal a. The circuit between the source of electric energy a andthe, signal 6 is identical with that previously pointed out, and it willbe understood that the passing current is incapable of operating thesignal b. If the attendant at station A wishes to operate the signal 6,the corresponding operating-piece a is actuated for respectivelyengaging the terminals (L12 64 with the terminals a a whereupon anegative current is passed over the line conductorA through the stations0 D to the ground and serves to operate the negative signal 0. Thecircuit between said stations A O D is as follows: from the ground alongthe conductor 0. terminals 0, (L conductor a, positive signal a,conductor a switch members a, positive conductor c6 source of electricenergy a, negative conductor a, switch member (1 terminals 0 a", lineconductor A branch conductor 0 terminals 0 0 c conductor 0 switch member0 conductor 0 negative signal c, conductor 0 terminals 0 c and conductor0 to the ground at station 0. A portion of the current passes from theterminal 0 along the terminal 026, branch conductor 0 line conductor Abranch conductor D terminals d 61 d conductor d switch member 61conductor d positive signal 01, conductor c1 terminals d 61 andconductor d to the ground at station D. Said portion of the current is,however, unable to actuate the positive signal d. In order to actuatethe signal d and call the station D, the corresponding operating-piece areverses the position of the terminals 0, A so that the terminals a (rare respectively engaged with the terminals a a A positive current thenflows over the same circuit, previously pointed out for the passage ofthe negative current for actuating the signal 0, and said positivecurrent actuates the signal cl without operating the signal 0. Theattendant or subscriber at any of the stations B O D E is also,preferably, able to call any other station, and in order that thisoperation may be apparent we will suppose that the station D desires tosuccessively actuate the signals CL 1) c e and that the correspondingoperating-pieces c1 are successively operated to bring about the desiredaction of the switching device at said station D. As clearly seen atFig. 1, the terminals c1 (Z are respectively connected by the switchmember 01 and the conductor c1 IIO adjacent arm of the terminal (1 Apositive current is then passed from the movable terminal (1 over thebranch conductor D and the line conductor A to the signal at and isreturned along the line conductorA Lthe branch conductor D and theterminal d to the movable terminal d vDuring this engagement of theterminals (Z d the terminal 61 is disconnected from the termin al (1,and consequently no current is passed to the station E, which is at theopposite side of the station D. The positive current for operating thesignal a also passes through the signal I), but is incapable ofactuating the same.

WVhen the negative signal I) is to be. operated, the position of theterminals (Z (Z is re-- versed, and a negative current passes to saidsignal Z) and to the signal ct over the intervening portions of the lineconductors A A 9, and

said current is cut off from passage to the station E at the oppositeside of the station D. In operating the signal 6 the terminal (Z isengaged with the terminal (Z and the terminal d is disconnected from theterminal (Z without discn gagin g the same from the terminal (1. Apositive current then passes from the terminals (1 d along the branchconductor D and the line conductor A to the signal 0 and returns alongthe line and branch conductors A D to the terminals (Z (1. It will beunderstood, however, that as the terminal (Z is disconnected from theterminal (Z there is no liability of the passage of the current towardthe stations A 13 on the opposite side of the station D. \Vhen thesignal a is operated, the terminal (Z is engaged with the groundedterminal (1 and the terminal (Z is disconnected from the terminal (Z andis engaged with one arm of the terminal (1 whereupon a negative currentpasses from the terminals (Z (Z along the branch conductor D lineconductor A branch conductor C terminal c and terminal 0 to the negativesignal c and thence to the ground.

The switching devices at the stations 13 C E operate in substantiallythe same manner as the similar devices at the stations A D, and it isthought unnecessary to fully set forth their operation. It will beparticularly understood, however, that the switching device at thestation 13, when controlling the passage of the positive current to thestation E, operates to break one of the line conductors connected to thestation A, on the opposite side thereof, in the same manner as theswitching device at the station D operates to break one of said lineconductors.

The electric communicating devices of the various stations A B O D E areso arranged that the electrical communication takes place over ametallic circuit consisting of both line conductors. As clearly seen atFig. 1 and previously pointed out, corre sponding conductors, as a Z) 0d e of the telephones a b c d 6 are connected either to a line conductoror to a branch conductor leading from said line conductor, and theopposite conductors leading from said telephones are connected by theswitch members a I) c (1 c when moved from their normal position and theconductors a" I) e d" e" to the opposite line conductor or branchconductors leading from said line conductor.

It will be apparent that by my system a metallic-circuit party-line isproduced, which is differentiated from the prior art and from a pendingapplication in favor of George \V. Hey, in that by said system ametallic-circuit party-line is provided in which is placed one or morestations 13 E, each having responsive devices, and one or more stations0 D, each having a ground-tap and a responsive device therein, and thata source of electrical energy a, with an optional ground-tap, is placedin the branch of the metallic circuit which connects the junction pointsof the ground-taps of the stations 0 D and includes the station orstations 13 E which have their responsive devices in the metalliccircuit. Should there be more than two stations which have theirresponsive devices in ground-taps, then the source of electricalenergya', with its optional ground-tap, is placed in the branch of themetallic circuit which connects the junetion-points of the first andlast ground-taps and includes the station or stations 13 E which havetheir responsive devices in the metallic circuit. From this arrangementof the circuit and its parts it will be seen that the path of thecurrent is controlled to operate the responsive devices either in themetallic circuit orin the groundtaps in the manner shown and describedwithoutthe necessityof employing resistance devices in the ground-tapsto prevent the current from short-circuiting to earth over both branchesof the line, as would be the case where the source of energy is placedin the branch of the metallic circuit joining the ground-taps andexcluding the responsive device in the metallic circuit, in which casethe responsive devices in the metallic circuit would be short-circuitedby the ground-taps unless these taps contained additional andhigh-resistance devices or as would he the case if the source ofelectrical energy were placed immediately between two of the stationshaving their responsive devices in the metallic circuit, in which caseit would be impossible to actuate the responsive device in the metalliccircuit without at the same time actuating one of the responsive devicesin one of the two ground taps. In other words, the use of all auxiliarydevices to control the path of the current is dispensed with byarranging the source of energy with relation to the circuit and itsparts, as herein set forth. The arrangement of the stations, responsivedevices, and source of electrical energy just described is applicablenot only for a private party-line, but also for use a party-line inconnection with a telephonic exchange, in which case the central officeis substituted for one of the substations.

My improved system is preferably of the described construction, in orderthat each station may be capable of calling any other station; but it isobvious that, if desired, one station only may be capable of suchoperation. It is also obvious that one of the stations of my improvedsystem may be dispensed with, and that, as hereinbefore mentioned, acentral or telephonic-exchange station maybe substituted therefor,whichis also connected to a number of similar or other circuits leadingthereto, as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 587,955.

The operation of my invention will now be readily understood uponreference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, and itwill be particularly understood that I do not herein limit myself to theexact detail construction and arrangement of the ICC switching orelectric communicating devices,

as the same may be somewhat varied without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. A party-line system comprising a'metallic circuit, one or morestations having responsive devices in the metallic circuit, two or morestations each having .a ground-tap and a responsive device therein, asource of electrical energy with an optional ground-tap, placeable inthat branch of the metallic circuit which connects the junction-pointsof the first and last ground-taps and includes the responsive device ofthe station-or stations first specified, and telephonic devices at eachstation placeable in the metallic circuit. 2. A party-line systemcomprising a metal- -lic circuit, two or more stations having responsivedevices in'the metallic circuit,two or more stations each having aground-tap and a responsive device therein, a source of electricalenergy with an optional groundtap, placeable in the metallic circuitbetween either station in the metallic circuit and the ground-tapadjacent thereto, and telephonic devices at each station placeable inthe metallic circuit. 7 l l 3. A party-line system comprising a metalliccircuit, two or more stations each having responsive devices in themetallic circuit, one or more stations having a ground-tap and aresponsive device therein, a source of electrical energy with anoptional ground-tap placeable in the metallic circuit between theground-tap having a responsive device therein and either station in' themetallic circuit adjacent thereto, and telephonic devices at eachstation placeable in the metallic circuit. 4. A system for electricalcommunication comprising two line conductors, separate stations providedwith signals operated by currents of different polarity and connected tothe ground and to one line conductor, additional stations provided withsignals operated by currents of different polarity and connected inmetallic circuit to both line conductors, means for passing electriccurrents of different polarity over one line conductor to the stationsconnected thereto and to the.

ground and for passing currents of different polarity over both lineconductors to the additional stations, means at said stations foroperating the signals of any of the stations, and switching devices atsaid stations for controlling the passage. and the polarity of thecurrent, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of independently-movable switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, and an operating-piece mechanicallyconnected to each of said switch members for simultaneously actuatingthe same, substantially as described.

6. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of independently-movable switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, and a plurality of operating-pieces eachconnected to each of said switch members for independently actuating thesame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electricv current; of independently-movable switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, an electrically-operated device normallyconnected to one of said movable switch members, and

a'plurality of operating-pieces each con nected to each of said switchmembers for independently actuating the same, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

8. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of-independently-mov-' able switchmembers provided with terminals for engagingthe former terminals andregulating the passage of the current, a source of electric energynormally connected to said movable switch members, and a plurality ofoperating-pieces each connected to each of said switch members forindependently actuating the same, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

9. The combination with a circuit having signals or responsive devicesconnected thereto, a generator; and terminals connected to the circuit;of switch members movable independently in opposite directions andprovided with terminals connected to the poles of the generator andmovable into engagement with the former terminals for regulat ing thepassage of the current from the generator'to the circuit, and anoperating-piece for moving one switch member in one direction andengaging its terminal with one of the former terminals,and for movingthe other switch member in the opposite direction and engaging itsterminal with another of the former terminals during the engagement ofthe terminal on the first switch member with said one of the formerterminals engaged therewith, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

10. The combination with a circuit having signals or responsive devicesconnected thereto, a generator, and terminals connected to the circuit;of independently-movable switch members provided with terminalsconnected to the poles of the generator and movable into engagement withthe former terminals for regulating the passage of the current from thegenerator to the circuit, and an operatingpiece for moving one switchmember in one direction and engaging its terminal with one IIO of theformer terminals, and for moving the other switch member a less distancethan the first switch member and engaging its terminal with another ofthe former terminals during the engagement of the terminal on the firstswitch member with said one of the former terminals engaged therewith,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of independently-movablc switch membersprovided with movable terminals for engaging the former terminals andregulating the passage of the current, a plurality of operating-pieceseach connected to said switch members for independently actuating thesame, local conductors connected to the former conductors, an electriccommunicating device, an additional switch member for connecting saiddevice to the local conductors, and a support for the electriccommunicating device connected to the additional switch member foroperating the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1?. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of independently-movable switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, said switch members being formed withapertures arranged out of alinement with each other, andoperating-pieces movable into the apertures for actuating said switchmembers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of indepcndently-movable switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, said switch members being provided withapertures arranged out of alinement with each other, operating piecesmovable into the apertures for actuating said switch members, andsprings for re turning said switch members to their normal position,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ll. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of independently-movable membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, said members being provided with aperturesarranged out of alinement with each other, operating-pieces movable intothe apertures for actuating said members, and means for holding saidmembers in theirnormal position, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

15. The combination with fixed terminals connected to conductors for thepassage of an electric current; of reversely-rocking switch membersprovided with terminals for engaging the former terminals and regulatingthe passage of the current, said switch members being provided withapertures arranged out of alinement with each other, and reciprocatingoperating-pieces movable into the apertures for actuating said switchmembers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. The eombinatitm with a circuit having signals or responsive devicesconnected thereto, a generator, and terminals connected to' the circuit;of movable switch members provided with terminals connected to the polesof the generator and movable into engagement with the former terminalsfor regulating the passage of the current from the generator to thecircuit, and an operating-piece movable in a plane disposed at an anglewith the plane of movement of the switch members, for moving said switchmembers and engaging their terminals with the former terminals,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination of a subscribers circuit having responsive devicesconnected thereto, a generator, a switch, said switch being providedwith terminals connected to the circuit, independentlymovablc switchmembers provided with terminals connected to the poles of the generatorand movable into engagement with the former terminals, a plurality ofoperating-pieces suitably connected to the switch members for actuatingthe same, and means for automatically returning the switch members totheir normal position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in theState of New York, this 7th day of April, 18%.

ALEXANDER 'l. BRO \VN.

\Yitnesses:

E. A. WEisBUI-m, K. H. TIIEOBALD.

